West Women's and Children's Domestic Violence Shelter

Mission of The Salvation Army West Women's and Children's Shelter.
Create a safe and nurturing environment for survivors to realize their potential for healing and growth as we work together to end domestic violence.

West Women's and Children's Shelter Project Report

By Fay Schuler - Director

West Women's and Children's Shelter

West Women's and Children's Shelter has continued to operate our emergency shelter and transitional housing for domestic violence survivors and their families in the Portland area. With the support of global giving donors in 2012, we answered 5,316 crisis calls, provided emergency shelter to 154 women and children, stabilized 67 women and children within our two year transitional housing program, and utilized over 4,856 volunteer hours to accomplish our work. With your help we are getting closer to our goal of ending the cycle of domestic violence.

Your financial contributions have been used to cover the costs of emergency shelter, child care, advocacy, prescription medication support, meals for hungry families, rental subsidies for survivors moving into their housing, educational assistance, helping to pay down past debt and reduce barriers towards long term and sustainable housing.

The West Women's and Children's project has raised $5,106 towards our goal of $10,000 to support our ongoing support services for domestic violence survivors. Each contribution brings us closer to our Mission ofcreating a safe nurturing environment for survivors to realize their potential for healing and growth as we work together to end domestic violence. Thank you!!!

In 2011, we answered 5,316 crisis calls, provided emergency shelter to 154 women and children, stabilized 67 women and children within our two year transitional housing program, and utilized over 4,856 volunteer hours to accomplish our work. None of this would have been possible without your partnership.

Over the holiday season, we were able to extend our assistance to more survivors than ever before. Over 200 women and children were provided with holiday assistance. This was only possible due to the generosity, kindness, and volunteerism we continue to be so fortunate to receive here at the West. The greatest gift survivors, staff, and volunteers received this year was hope. Hope that we are not alone in our mission to end domestic violence. Hope that some cares about our struggles. And, hope that people are genuinely kind and giving and want to help others. Each year, I am personally so thankful for these gifts I receive from you, our generous donors.

“Thank you for the gifts that made this Holiday one of my favorites. Our Christmas was calm and peaceful. Thank you for everything you have done to help my family.”

Ongoing project report

By Fay Schuler - Director

The ongoing project of West Women's and Children's Shelter has generated close to $5,000 of financial support to the shelter and our core services such as advocacy, meals, child care, emergency shelter, and support groups. The shelter and transitional housing programs serve up to 200 women and children a year who are escaping domestic violence and seeking safety. As governmental funding and private donations continue to become more restricted the support from GlobalGiving.org is extremely important to our ability to sustain services to those who need us. The money raised from this project has gone directly to West Women's and Children's Shelter supporting our mission to create a safe nurturing environment for survivors to realize their potential for healing and growth as we work together to end domestic violence.

The following is what survivors are saying about the West “I would have never have made it without the help of the West Women’s Shelter and their Advocates, all staff should be given a certificate of excellence for services provided, staff is very compassionate and understanding and know how access resources for survivors, thank you for believing in me and being my support, I was blessed to be at the West and get the help I needed to help me and my children stay out of a violent situation, I came in with a backpack, I received such support, I built up my self esteem with the help of staff and other residents encouraging me, people helping people, I learned I am not alone, and that I can always reach out for help and the West will be there for me and my family. Someday I want to give back with my kids at the shelter.” This is just some of the very valuable feedback we have received from participants exiting shelter about our services.